The 2017 Acura NSX’s development spanned almost 10 years, with no less than three different almost-finished designs being scrapped at the final hour. Finally, after years of anticipation and promises, Acura is finally handing the supercar keys to its eagerly awaiting customers. The final car features a hybrid all-wheel-drive setup coupled to a twin-turbo V-6 engine developing 573 hp. Yet, Acura won’t be complacent and rest on its laurels, as confirmed by the NSX’s development boss Nick Robinson.

As of this moment, the NSX is a big, heavy, technical monster of a car. Its near 4,000-pound curb weight has been a subject of debate in terms of performance. As such, rumors of a hardcore, lighter Type R have circled for months. Now Robinson has seemingly admitted to it being in the pipeline, telling Autocar, “In North America, We’ve just unveiled the GT3 version of the car, and the development team of the street car has had some involvement in its development. What works well on the track will inform future iterations and updates of the street car and vice versa.”

The NSX team has also benefited from Honda’s motorcycle racing efforts in the construction and technical tweaking of the NSX. Robinson added, “For many years our motorcycle development teams have strived to ensure the optimum centralization of mass, ensuring the lowest possible center of gravity. This leads to the best possible yaw response.” Where this technical know-how comes into play is likely to inform the position of the NSX’s batteries and hybrid motors.

A Type R could follow the GT3’s formula, ditching the heavy hybrid and AWD systems in favor of a rear-wheel drive setup. The R would likely stick with the same twin-turbocharged V-6 engine as the standard model, possibly tuned to make over 600 hp. It would also have further weight reductions and use more carbon-fiber materials.

A production date for the NSX Type R is still up for speculation as Acura has kept the project close to the vest. But given that there’s a rumor that the NSX is sold out for the next two years, a Type R wouldn’t likely be seen until 2019.